Process of purifying and hardening copper and copper alloys



UNITED STATES PATENT- ()FFICE.

FRANCIS M. FORMAN, OF OTISCO, MICHIGAN.

PROCESS OF PURlFYlNG AND HARDENlNG COPPER AND COPPER ALLOYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 352,615, dated November 16, 1886. Application filed January 4, 1886. Serial No. 187,619. (No specimensl T0 aZZ whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, FRANCIS M. FORMAN, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Otisco, in the county of lonia and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Processes of Purifying and Hardening Gopper and Copper Alloys,of which the following is a specification.

Hy invention relates to the production of a metallic composition embracing copper and having a close or solid texture capable of high polish, of great tensile strength, capable of receiving a temper by heating and cooling, asin the tempering ofiron or steel, and suitable for a great variety of uses, among which may be named the production of journal-bearings of great durability and little friction. I attain these ends by the means hereinafter specifically described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Copper is melted in any well-known manner, and certain carbonates added thereto, together with charcoal, and after fusion the resulting metal or metallic compound may be poured in molds,the intermixture therewith of the slag being of course avoided. Any suit able vessel-such as aladle or crucible-made of wrought iron or steel may be employed. I have successfully practiced the invention in an iron ladle and on a common blacksmiths hearth. Those skilled in the art can readily suggest usual constructions of apparatus and furnaces for performing the operations indicated.

My invention relates to the materials em ployed,and to their use for the objects named in the manner specified, and not to any particular form of vessel or furnace.-

I add to the copper, at or before the stage of fusion, either the carbonate (or bicarbonate) of soda, potash, or lime, and may also add the carbonate of iron, zinc, or lead. Some form of carbon-such as charcoal, preferably reduced to powder-is put upon the metal andcarbonate, and is burned or partially burned during the fusion of those substances.

A sufficient amount of carbon should be used, and for such time as may be required to prevent oxidation of the metal, which may be carbon with the metal and would result in a product that could not be tempered, as above described. a

I am aware that potash and the borate of soda with sawdust and other materials have been employed for the treatment of copper, as

set forth in Patent No. 215,096, and that potash, bone-dust, zinc, or tin and charcoal have also been used, as set forth in Patent No. 247,494, and that the hydrate of an alkali and coaldust have been put on the surface of copper melted in a vessel lined with a mixture of graphite and clay, all in processes forimproving copper; but I use the carbonates of the alkalies, which serve as fluxes, and also aid in maintain ng a non-oxidizing atmosphere over the copper.

YVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The improvement in the art of refining and hardening copper, which consists in fusing the copper and a carbonate togetherin a suitable vessel and burning carbonaceous material above the same, the temperature of the copper being kept near its point of fusion, substan tial] y as described.

2. The improvement in the art of refining and hardening CQppeuv'hich consists in fusing copper and a carbonate together in a suitable vessel, supplying carbonaceous matter to the surface of the materials, removing slag, and pouring the metal, substantially as set forth and described.

FRANCIS M. FORMAN.

Witnesses:

F. D. M. DAVIS, L. P. BRo'cK. 

